Whether in the shop or on the job site, there always seems to be a need for stands to
support long or awkward workpieces,
particularly when feeding or catching
long offcuts on a table saw. The new
Bora Portamate PM5093 Deluxe Pedestal Roller offers three solutions in one
to this challenge.

The PM5093 is basically a bipod
stand with extensions to give it a stable
footprint but still keep it easily portable. The best part of the stand is the
quick-change feature on top that allows
you to instantly change between the
three most popular work stand options:
roller, ball bearings or fixed bar.

Basic features

With sturdy all-steel construction, the
PM5093 is plenty strong for most applications. It is officially rated to hold
up to 200 pounds. The two legs mount
into a triangular fixture that braces
them securely when engaged but allows
them to fold up for transport.

One of the common problems with
work stands is how the center column
locks – or doesn’t – to support weight
without slipping. This stand’s center
column has a tapered design that
means that gravity and weight actually
wedge the column tighter against the
locking screw.

The quick-change feature for thethree different support systems is cleverand easy. Without tools, you simply liftup the bracket and flip it over to oneof the three modes. The big roller isgreat for ripping long boards on a tablesaw. The roller ball fixture is helpfulwith unusual shapes and pieces thatmight need to change direction whilestill being supported, such as position-ing a piece in a drill press. The fixedbracket is the right support when youjust need a long end supported whileyou are working on the other end, suchas crosscutting a long board or holdinga piece for gluing.

How it works

Sturdy and simple, the PM5093 performed excellently in all of our tests.
It was great to change to a different
support system as the work required.

When out of the shop and on a job site
with uneven ground, a leveling feature
on one of the stand’s feet kept the unit
stable. The wedged center support
never let the stand slip while supporting work.

Our only complaint is that whenswitching between the three standmodes, the height of the stand changesand must be readjusted, but that’s justa minor inconvenience for a very usefulstand. You can learn more about theunit at www.boratool.com. ;by Will Sampsonwill.sampson@woodworkingnetwork.com IN THE SHOP

Triple threat pedestal standBora Portamate pedestal has three ways to support work.

;Want more?

To see this in action,
watch our video on your
smart phone or online
at http://bit.ly/Bora_Portamate_stand

William Sampson is a lifelong
woodworker and the editor of FDMC
magazine.
watch our video on your

The Bora Portamate PM5093 is a
work stand that can instantly change
between three different work support
modes: roller, roller bearings, and
fixed support.